These days, we view online dating as completely natural way to meet a partner. In fact, today, one in five new, committed relationships are between people who met online, according to a study of more than 11,000 people in 2009 by Chadwick Martin Bailey. The study also revealed that over twice as many newlyweds met through online dating sites than at clubs, bars or other social forums combined.

Meeting a partner at work or school remains most likely, with 36 per cent meeting this way, and meeting through a friend or member of family comes in second at 26%. But online dating is catching up with 17% of new relationships over the last three years starting this way – only 11% met through bars, clubs or other social events.

However, it wasn’t always this way. There used to be a lot of taboo about online dating. For some people, meeting people on the internet for romantic reasons seemed reminiscent of responding to lonely hearts ads in local newspapers. In truth, there was nothing wrong with the idea of joining a group or organisation to find a partner, and the many benefits of searching for a partner online were soon to make online dating one of the most popular ways to find love.

Promoting yourself

We all ‘advertise’ when we are looking for a date – even if it means we tell our friends or get a new haircut to attract attention. Thankfully, any stigma connected to online dating evaporated quickly as millions of people went online in order to find that essential need of love. Today people are much more comfortable about using the media to advertise the fact they were single and looking for love.

Social networks have got people used to the idea of creating their own pages. Social networks, such as Facebook, actually encourage people to list whether they are single, in a relationship or married. However, unlike online dating sites, most social networks are more about keeping in contact with existing friends rather than using them to discover new acquaintances.

Falling barriers

People are also much more open about their sexuality than they were in the past. In years gone by gay people were forced to be discreet or even secretive if they were looking for partners. Women could also not allow themselves to be seen actively pursuing men for fear of being castigated. Thankfully, these social barriers are evaporating and now neither group has anything to fear about declaring their desires. Such openness and a greater maturity has also led to a growth in the use of the online dating for finding love.

The 21st century has also seen people becoming ever more geographically mobile. People that have to move to another city or part of the country can no longer rely on their existing social circles to introduce them to perspective partners and lovers. They are forced to consider new ways to meet others. Some very confident people have no problem heading out by themselves and striking up conversations with new people. However, for many this can be quite an intimidating experience. However, whatever your personality, whether you are super-confident or a shrinking violet, online dating sites can be a very straightforward way to find love.

In conclusion, the taboo surrounding online dating sites has largely disappeared as a result of social changes, the growth of the internet and because of our basic need to find love.

Author Bio: match.com is the UK’s best known online dating site. At match we’re proud that every day 160 members leave us… as couples.

Category: Dating
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